Supreme Court on Tuesday heard the suo motu case over the rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata. The apex court grilled the West Bengal government over its handling of the case and asked why the FIR was registered at 11:45 PM when the crime was detected early in the morning.
The CJI DY Chandrachud led bench said that the case has shocked the conscience of the nation and expressed concern over the victim's pictures and names being circulated on social media.
"We took suo motu action because this is not just the matter of a particular horrific murder and rape...but it raises systemic issue of safety of doctors across India," CJI said.
The Supreme Court while hearing the case posed several tough questions to Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the West Bengal Government.
"Crime is detected early in morning, the principal tries to pass this off as suicide and untill night there was no FIR? What was the principal doing? Why no FIR till late in the night? A matter of serious concern !" The CJI said.
'What Will You Do With The Principal?' SC Asks West Bengal Govt
The apex court further questioned the fresh appointment of the Principal after he resigned from RG Kar Hospital.
"What was the Principal doing? FIR was not filed; the body was handed late to parents; what is the police doing? A serious offence has taken place, the crime scene has taken place in hospital...what are they doing? Allowing vandalists to enter the hospital?" The bench asked the West Bengal government.
The bench further asked the government to explain what it plans to do with the Principal now? At this point Sibal appearing for W Bengal govt said whatever the court wants them to do.
The apex court said it wants CBI to file a status report on Thursday. The next hearing is August 22.
"One thing is very clear that FIR is registered more than 3 hours after the body was handed over to parents. FIR is registered at 11:45 PM? What were the hospitals doing?" CJI Chandrachud asked.
There was undoubtedly an unexplained delay by state in the case, the apex court said. CJI DY Chandrachud further said that the power of state of West Bengal should not be unleashed on peaceful protestors.
"Whether doctors, or civil society.. let power of state be not unleashed on them at all," the Supreme Court said and directed the government to take stern action against those responsible for vandalism at the hospital.
Supreme Court Sets Up National Task Force For Safe Work Space For Doctors
The Supreme Court has set up a National Task Force to evolve a national consensus on creating safe conditions of work for medical professionals in India.
The apex court provided a list of members as part of National Task force: Surgeon Vice Admiral R Sarin, Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy, Dr. M Shreenivas, Dr. Pratima Murty, Dr. Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Dr. Saumitra Rawat, Prof Anita Saxena, Head Cardiology, AIIMS Delhi, Prof Pallavi Sapre, Dean Grant Medical College Mumbai, Dr Padma Srivastava, Neurology dept, AIIMS.
The Supreme Court today said that the NTF shall make actions plans on two heads - (1) Preventing violence including gender based violence against medical professionals; (2) Providing an enforceable national protocol for dignified and safe working conditions for interns, residents, senior residents, doctors, etc.
"We know they are all intern, resident doctors and most importantly woman doctors....most of the young doctors are putting in 36 hours ....we must evolve a national protocol to ensure safe conditions of work are provided...if women are not able to go to work and conditions are not safe, we are denying them equality," the CJI said.